www.bstu.de Records Agency Stasi Content

Introduction 4

Archives 6

Access to Records 8

Public Outreach 12

Torn Documents 20

Regional Reappraisal Work 22

“Campus for Democracy” 24

History of the BStU 26

The BStU and it Regional Offices 28 2 3

Title: BStU Archives, photo: BStU/Dresen | p. 2: MfS file cards, photo: BStU/Böttcher Introduction

Democracy, not Dictatorship! This was the message transmitted by the Peaceful Revolution in the GDR in 1989. At great risk to themselves, courageous women and men put a stop to the activities of the SED’s secret police. They seized the offices of the Ministry of State Security and were able to ensure that most of the Stasi records were preserved.

Shedding light on what happened. The SED dictatorship lasted An archive for democracy. For the first time ever with access to the 40 years – until the people liberated themselves from oppression. Stasi files citizens were granted access to records a secret police had How could this repressive system have functioned for so long? The previously gathered as a result of massive surveillance. For the first Ministry of State Security (Stasi) was a central instrument of the SED time ever citizens thus obtained wide access to the data a state had state party, which it used to systematically put its own people under amassed outside the rule of law. This short booklet explains how the surveillance and thus asserted its claim to power through repressive records are administrated today and how we inform the public about means. The Stasi files help us today to shed light on the mechanisms, the structure, methods and mode of operation of the Stasi. to identify who worked for the secret police with what intention and how. The better we understand dictatorship, the better we can shape democracy.

4 5 Federal Commissioner for the Stasi Records (BStU)

p. 4: Demonstration on 7 October 1989 in (East), photo: Andreas Schoelzel | p. 5: photo: rbb Kontraste Archives

The Legacy of the MfS The archives in numbers (Berlin and regional offices)*

Although the State Security destroyed a massive amount of files, nearly 111 kilometres of shelved documents have been preserved in the archives of the BStU, along with many photographs, film, video Documents: 111 shelf kilometres and audio recordings. This material provides evidence of an appa- ratus of informers in the GDR, and thus it contains documents that Filmed documents: the equivalent of 47 shelf kilometres reveal planned and committed injustices, conformity and betrayal, but also civil courage and resistance. File cards: 41 million Approximately half of these documents were stored in archives created by the Ministry of State Security and classified according to Photos, film negatives, slides: 1.7 million the ministry’s principles of secret information storage. The remain- der, found in a largely disorganised state in Stasi offices, was taken over by the BStU. Thousands of bags of torn up documents were also Film, video and audio recordings: 30,100 found. Fragmented material: 15,000 bags In 2007, in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Pro- 6 duction Systems and Design Technology (IPK) in Berlin, the BStU 7 * The records of the former ministry headquarters as well as the former district administrations in initiated a pilot project to virtually reconstruct these fragmented Berlin and Potsdam are archived in Berlin; the files of the remaining 13 district administrations and documents (see. p. 21). The technique is currently being tested. local offices are held in the BStU’s 12 regional offices.

MfS film reels, photo: BStU/Hertel Access to Records

Viewing One’s Personal File Use by Public and Non-Public Entities

Everyone has the right to view the documents that the MfS gener- On the request of public and non-public entities, the BStU will dis- ated about him or her. Under certain conditions, close relatives may close whether evidence exists to suggest that certain individuals in also view the files on a missing or deceased relative. important social and political positions cooperated with the Ministry of State Security. It is the responsibility of the requesting entity to Requests to view a file can be submitted to the BStU in Berlin or decide whether the examination should be carried out and what to any of the regional offices. Application forms are available in all consequences are to be drawn. the BStU offices. They can also be downloaded from the Internet (http://www.bstu.bund.de/EN/AccessToRecords/_node.html) or have The Federal Commissioner also provides information for rehabil- sent by mail. itation and restitution claims and for criminal investigations and danger prevention. Additionally, it processes requests regarding To assure that no one gains unauthorized access to someone else’s unresolved property claims, pensions of former MfS employees and file, a signature and an identity confirmation is required. The latter medal awards. can be issued by a registry office or by a BStU employee upon pres- entation of a valid ID.

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Application to view personal files, photo: BStU/Böttcher Research and Media Use Requests in numbers

Researchers and media representatives also have the right to view From 1991 to late 2014, the BStU received approx. 7 million requests records. By fulfilling these requests the BStU contributes to the and petitions to view records. historical and political reappraisal of the impact of the East German “state security”. When requested, the BStU will provide records con- Requests from citizens for information, to view cerning the activities of the MfS and the mechanisms of domination records or have copied files released: 3.05 million in both the former GDR and the former Soviet zone of occupation. The BStU also supports research on the Nazi past by providing Requests from researchers and media representatives: 30,500 documents from the Third Reich that the Stasi had used for its own operations. Petitions to vet civil service employees and people in important functions: 1.98 million The film “”, parts of which were filmed in the archives of the , is perhaps the best-known Petitions concerning rehabilitation, restitution, example of the media addressing the subject of the Stasi and showing criminal investigations: 497,000 how it operated. Staff of the Stasi Records Agency shared its knowl- edge and expertise with the film team during production. Petitions concerning pension claims: 1.16 million 10 A sample request letter for researchers and media representatives is 11 Miscellaneous examinations and petitions: 467,000 available on the BStU homepage. (www.bstu.bund.de/EN)

Scene from the film “The Life of Others”, photo: Hagen Keller Public Outreach

Travelling and Temporary Exhibitions The exhibition “State Security in the SED Dictatorship”, created jointly by the BStU and ASTAK association (Antistalinistische Aktion), The BStU’s exhibitions provide information on the development, describes the structure and methods of the MfS and shows the structure and mode of operation of the GDR secret police, as well actual people within the apparatus, who took concrete action and as on its methods of surveillance and persecution. The travelling made decisions. Hundreds of thousands of people worked as official exhibition “Feind ist, wer anders denkt” (The Dissenter is the Enemy) employees or unofficial collaborators for the MfS. How did they is shown primarily in the former West German states. It presents come to join the Stasi, what career paths did they take, what was their the history and development of the GDR secret police and describes social and professional background and what kind of work did they the strategies and methods it used against dissenters. Various other do for the Stasi? travelling and temporary exhibitions, often with a local emphasis, are also shown in the regional offices. The “Mielke Level” with the original offices of the Minister of State Security and his staff is incorporated into the exhibition.

Permanent Exhibition in the Stasi Museum House 1, Ruschestraße 103, 10365 Berlin Hours: Mon–Fr 10 am–6 pm; Sat, Sun and holidays: 11 pm–6 pm The headquarters of the Stasi was located from 1950 to 1989 on Admission: €6, reduced €4.50, pupils €3 grounds that in the end were 22 hectares in size in Berlin-Lichten- www.stasimuseum.de berg. “House 1”, where Minister had his offices, formed 12 the central area of the complex. Today it houses the Stasi Museum. 13

Visitors in the “Mielke Suite” in the Stasi Museum at the former Stasi headquarters in Berlin-, photo: BStU/Dresen School Programs Internet

The Stasi Records Agency educates about dictatorship through The BStU homepage (www.bstu.de) aims to inspire an interest in teacher seminars and projects for students at the historic site of historic and political education in many different ways. The site the Stasi headquarters. The educational programs can be combined offers an overview of the information resources provided by the with a visit to the Stasi Archive, the Stasi Museum or a tour of the Stasi Records Agency as well as specialised themes for research on historic grounds. The BStU also provides material designed especially the Stasi. An events calendar shows the events and exhibitions taking for schools. The source material presents examples of teenagers place throughout . who were persecuted by the Stasi, young people who became Stasi collaborators, and official Stasi employees performing their routine Research of selected Stasi records and citizen services can be con- work. ducted in different ways. Several collections of key documents from the Stasi archives relating to research areas of the BStU are accessible online. The site also presents a list of all the BStU’s publications, Events some of which are available as PDF files or a databank. The Web site offers detailed information on how to apply to view records and The BStU uses various public platforms to promote a lively exchange how the Stasi records may be used. The request form to view files is of ideas on Stasi-related subjects such as surveillance, conformism, available as a download. civil courage and resistance. More than 200 events take place each 14 year in Berlin, in the regional offices, and other sites throughout Ger- 15 many, often in cooperation with other institutions that also address this history.

Students on a tour through the Stasi Records Archive in Berlin, photo: BStU/Freiling Impressum Kontakt Datenschutz Über diese Seite “Stasi Media Centre” – Original: Stasi-Mediathek A modern page design allows for both a rational and emotional Stasi Mediathek approach to the content. All media can be explored in full text The online “Stasi Media Centre” – Original: Stasi-Mediathek – is through a word-based search. Collections arranged by topic provide a window into the Stasi Records Archive. Thousands of pages of an uncomplicated view of events and personal fates. They show how Geschichte documents, hundreds of photo series, and many hours of audio the Stasi intervened in the lives of people in the GDR. The “Stasi Media Udo rockt für den Weltfrieden and video material provide an in-depth view of the methods Centre” can be accessed from a desktop computer as well as from Nur einen einzigen Auftritt hatte Udo Lindenberg in der DDR. Am 25. Oktober 1983 spielte der west- and activities of the Stasi. tablets and smartphones. Currently it is only available in German. deutsche Rocker 15 Minuten beim Friedensfestival der „Freien Deutschen Jugend“ (FDJ) in Ostberlin. In dieser Hochphase des „Kalten Krieges“ löste der Auftritt bei der Stasi einen umfangreichen Einsatz aus, nicht zuletzt, weil Udo Lindenberg ein steter Kritiker der Berliner Mauer war. Zur Geschichte The “Stasi Media Centre” invites the public to gather their own www.stasi-mediathek.de impression of the material left behind by the Ministry of State Security (MfS). It is aimed both at users with little previous knowledge as well as experts in the field. Specially arranged texts and an explanation of terms help people to better understand the complex content.

The website contains general documents and vivid case studies. It provides an overview of the activities, structure and development of the Ministry of State Security over the 40 years of the SED 16 dictatorship. 17

Vivid examples provide insight into the mentality and actions of the Stasi. Research Specialised Library

The authentic Stasi documents provide a broad range of source The library in the Education and Research Department is a material for research into the structures, operating mechanisms, specialized scholarly library. It contains publications on subjects mentalities, work methods and historic impact of the GDR secret relevant to the reappraisal of the East German secret police and the police. The historians and scholars working for the Federal Com- communist regime of . The reference library supports missioner for Stasi Records conduct basic research and publish the work of the agency’s staff, but is also open to anyone interested numerous studies and primary source editions. In addition to several in this subject. monographs, there are a few key publications worthy of special note: the MfS lexicon and the handbook “Anatomie der Staatssicherheit”, In addition to books, the library’s holdings, most of which are which both provide well-grounded information about the MfS; and freely accessible, include journals and newspapers and numerous the ZAIG volume of documents, a collection of secret reports sent by audio-visual media (CD, DVD and CD-ROM). The library maintains the MfS to the SED leadership from 1953 to 1989. These publications a large archive of German-language newspapers. can be purchased through the BStU, the Internet or bookstores, and are also available in the BStU library. Many of these publications can Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 31/33, 10178 Berlin be downloaded for free from the BStU homepage: www.bstu.de. Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs 8:30 am–4 pm; Wed 10 am–6 pm, Fri 8:30 am–2:30 pm

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Specialised library in the Stasi Records Agency, photo: BStU/Böttcher Torn Documents

Manual Reconstruction Virtual Reconstruction

During the Peaceful Revolution of 1989/90, the MfS tried to destroy Without increasing staff, it would take many decades to put all or make unusable as many documents as possible. Documents that these documents back together by hand. Thus in 2008 the German recorded social-political repression were to be eradicated to cover up agreed to fund a pilot project that would use computers evidence of injustice in the GDR. The destruction was stopped when to speed up the reconstruction process. The Fraunhofer Institute for the Stasi offices were stormed. Production Systems and Design Technology (IPK) began developing a software program for the BStU that would be able to reassemble the In 1995, work began to put the fragmented documents back together. fragments on the basis of similar features such as torn edges, colour Thousands of pages of texts were made accessible again, including and handwriting. Tens of thousands of pages have already been documents on the surveillance and persecution of well-known reconstructed using the “ePuzzler”, which began functioning in late figures in the opposition movement and critics of the regime such as 2013. After the documents are reassembled, they are compiled into Robert Havemann and Jürgen Fuchs. files and cases in the archive. The project has been a basic success, but its automation and speed requires further development. Additional funds were provided for this by the German Bundestag in 2015. After the pilot project is completed, the Bundestag will decide whether virtual reconstruction should be applied on a much larger scale.

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Torn documents stored in bags, photo: BStU/Dresen Regional Reappraisal Work

The archives in the regional offices of the BStU provide concrete The Documentation and evidence of the Stasi’s influence throughout the entire country. The Memorial Site in BStU maintains offices in 12 of the 14 former GDR district capitals outside of Berlin, assuring a citizen-centred and regional reassess- The former Stasi remand prison in Rostock today is transformed ment of the Stasi documents. The regional offices in , , into a documentation and memorial site (DuG). After the prison was (Oder), Rostock and also maintain information and built in 1959, thousands of prisoners were held there in pre-trial documentation centres. detention from 1960 to 1989, mostly for political reasons. In the DuG, visitors can view the cell block and original cells. On tours visitors see These regional offices of the BStU organise special events and the prison yard, dark cells and prisoner transport vans. A perma- exhi­bitions, and work with schools to address various aspects of nent exhibition depicts everyday life in the Stasi remand prison and the repressive system in the GDR. Special emphasis is placed on describes how the Stasi operated in the region of Rostock. the Stasi’s regional influence. These offices have made a number of travelling exhibitions available to schools, memorial sites and public Hermannstraße 34 b, 18055 Rostock institutions. The files contain many documents on life and living (entrance across from the supermarket) conditions in the GDR as observed by the Stasi – for example the Telephone: 0381 498-5651, E-Mail: [email protected] surveillance measures in the districts, environmental conditions in Hours: March to October: Tues–Fri 10 am–6 pm, Sat 10 am–5 pm , the nuclear power plant in Stendal, the shipyards in Rostock November to February: Tues–Fri 9 am–5 pm, Sat 10 am –5 pm and the Uranium mines in the south of East Germany (Wismut). Closed on Sunday, Monday and holidays 22 Exhibitions on these and other subjects can be borrowed free of Public tours: Wednesday and Saturday at 2 pm (in German) 23 charge from the regional offices. Admission is free

Former Stasi remand prison in Rostock, photo: BStU “Campus for Democracy”

Stasi City, Normannenstraße Documentation Centre and Memorial, The “Expert Commission on the Future of the Agency of the Stasi Museum, Learning Centre in the Stasi Headquarters, Educa- BStU”, which was appointed by the German Bundestag in July tional Site on Repression and Resistance, Stasi Records Archive – 2014, also deliberates on the future of the grounds. It is expected there are many different names for the grounds and buildings that to develop recommendations for the “... conseptual and spatial make up the former State Security headquarters. Another idea is to use of the authentic site at Normannenstraße while taking into convert the grounds into a “Campus for Democracy”. The former account the previous uses of the site and other sites involved Stasi headquarters in Berlin-Lichtenberg would be an ideal place to in historical reappraisal of the SED dictatorship.” help people grasp the phenomenon of dictatorship, thus reinforcing the social and political awareness of the importance of democracy.

The idea of creating a “Stasi headquarters learning centre” is an invi- tation to government and social institutions to continue developing these grounds 25 years after the Peaceful Revolution. In addition to the Stasi Museum and Stasi Records Archive, which are now established institutions in Berlin’s landscape of historic reappraisal, the grounds have the potential for more. In 2016, for example, the Robert Havemann Society plans to present an open-air exhibition on the Peaceful Revolution in the inner courtyard of the former Stasi 24 headquarters. 25

Grounds of the former Stasi headquarters in Berlin-Lichtenberg, photo: BStU/Dresen History of the BStU

Winter 1989/90: December 1991: The Stasi offices and later the Stasi headquarters in Berlin are When the Stasi Records Law comes into effect, the “Special seized. Commissioner” is renamed “The Federal Commissioner for the Records of the State Security Service of the former German August 1990: Democratic Republic”. The Volkskammer (People’s Chamber) resolves to open the files and passes a law to safeguard and regulate the use of Stasi January 1992: documents. Citizens are able to view their files for the first time.

September 1990: September 2000: A clause is added to the Unification Treaty calling for a law that The Bundestag elects as Commissioner. contains the basic elements of the Volkskammer law and also for the appointment of a special federal commissioner to oversee January 2011: the Stasi records. The Bundestag elects Roland Jahn as Commissioner.

October 1990: is appointed Special Commissioner when the Unification Treaty comes into effect. 26 27

Jürgen Fuchs viewing his files on 2 January 1992, photo: Peter Wensierski The BStU and it Regional Offices

The headquarters of the Federal Commissioner for Stasi Records Contact information in Berlin is located in Berlin. Regional offices exist in twelve former district capitals of the GDR: , Dresden, Erfurt, Frankfurt (Oder), Central office in Berlin , Halle, Leipzig, , , Rostock, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 31/33 | 10178 Berlin- and . Potsdam and Cottbus maintain counselling offices. Mailing address: 10106 Berlin Tel.: 030 2324-50 | E-Mail: [email protected] Citizens can apply to view their files in any of the offices regardless of their place of residence. Special events and exhibitions are also Citizen’s counselling office open to the general public. Personal counselling is available at the following times: Mon–Thurs 8 am–12 pm and 1 pm–5 pm, Fri 8 am–2 pm More information on the work of the BStU is available online at: Telephone counselling and appointments: 030 2324-7000 www.bstu.bund.de/EN Research and media inquiries AU 5 | AU 6 Tel.: 030 2324-9051 / -9061 | Fax: 030 2324-9059 / -9069 E-Mail: [email protected] | [email protected]

Stasi Records Archive in Berlin 28 Ruschestraße 103, Entrance House 7 | 10365 Berlin 29 Tel.: 030 2324-6699 | Fax: 030 2324-6619 E-Mail: [email protected]

BStU main offices in Berlin-Mitte, photo: Franz Brück Regional Offices of the BStU

Education and Research Department Regional Office Chemnitz Regional Office Halle Regional Office Schwerin Tel.: 030 2324-8801 Jagdschänkenstraße 52 | 09117 Chemnitz Blücherstraße 2 | 06122 Halle (Saale) Resthof 2 | 19065 Görslow Fax: 030 2324-8809 Tel.: 0371 8082-0 | E-Mail: [email protected] Tel.: 0345 6141-0 | E-Mail: [email protected] Tel.: 03860 503-0 | E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] Regional Office Dresden Regional Office Leipzig Regional Office Suhl Specialised Library Riesaer Straße 7 | 01129 Dresden Dittrichring 24 | 04109 Leipzig Weidbergstraße 34 | 98527 Suhl Hours: Tel.: 0351 2508-0 | E-Mail: [email protected] Tel.: 0341 2247-0 | E-Mail: [email protected] Tel.: 03681 456-0 | E-Mail: [email protected] Mon, Tues, Thurs 8:30 am–4:30 pm Wed 10 am–6 pm Regional Office Erfurt Regional Office Magdeburg Beratungsstelle Cottbus Fri 8:30 am–14:30 pm Petersberg Haus 19 | 99084 Erfurt Georg-Kaiser-Straße 7 | 39116 Magdeburg Karl-Marx-Straße 67 | 03044 Cottbus Tel.: 0361 5519-0 | E-Mail: [email protected] Tel.: 0391 6271-0 | E-Mail: [email protected] Tel.: 030 2324-8862 Fax: 030 2324-8819 Regional Office Frankfurt (Oder) Regional Office Neubrandenburg E-Mail: [email protected] Fürstenwalder Poststraße 87 | 15234 Frankfurt Neustrelitzer Straße 120 | 17033 Neubrandenburg Tel.: 0335 6068-0 | E-Mail: [email protected] Tel.: 0395 7774-0 | E-Mail: [email protected] History and Political Education and Exhibitions 30 Tel.: 030 2324-8831 Regional Office Gera Regional Office Rostock 31 Fax: 030 2324-8839 Hermann-Drechsler-Straße 1, Haus 3 | 07548 Gera Straße der Demokratie 2 | 18196 Waldeck-Dummerstorf E-Mail: [email protected] Tel.: 0365 5518-0 | E-Mail: [email protected] Tel.: 038208 826-0 | E-Mail: [email protected] Date: August 2015 Stasi Records Agency